Flexibility Solutions for High-Renewable Energy Systems

UK

Germany

Energy storage and smart electric vehicle charging provide flexibility by moving large volumes of renewable energy to periods of high demand, or moving demand to periods of high renewable generation.

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Dispatchable demand response reduces the need for fossil-fired backup plants in the power system, reducing emissions.

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Interconnecting to Nordic hydro can address periods of both excess supply and excess demand, providing different benefits over the decades as the needs of the system evolve.

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8%

11%

12%

13%

26%

Learn more: eaton.com/tippingpoints

Lower U.K. power sector emissions in 2030 with Nordic interconnectors

Less backup fossil capacity required in 2030 with faster battery deployment

Higher power generation system costs in 2040 without new flexibility technologies

More expensive power system by 2040 without new sources of flexibility

Net emissions reduction by 2040 from a higher uptake of flexibly-charged electric vehicles

Lower emissions if batteries become even cheaper or additional interconnections to the Nordics are built

Flexible energy options, such as energy storage, smart-charging electric vehicles, demand response and interconnectors, are needed to ensure that the energy transition proceeds on an optimal path. Our expensive power system would otherwise be reliant on fossil-fueled backup and installing excess wind and solar capacity. These four types of flexibility can accelerate the transition to a cleaner power system and ultimately enable the efficient integration of 80% or more renewable energy by 2040.

25%

Bloomberg New Energy Finance economic study, commissioned by Eaton and Statkraft